Did Cavs really improve at trade deadline? 'NBA 2K18' weighs in

The Cavs swapped out nearly all the expendable parts of their roster that surround LeBron James in unprecedented fashion, trading away six contributors and a first-round pick Thursday afternoon in exchange for four new players. Needless to say, this new Cavs team will be completely different from the one it supplants. "NBA 2K18" can provide some insight on whether Cleveland's fortunes are now brighter, or if its place as the perennial Eastern Conference favorite has come to an end.NBA TRADE DEADLINE: Biggest winners and losersNew Cavs Larry Nance Jr.

Kyle Korver scored a season-high 30 points in the Cavs ' win over the Hawks and Dwyane Wade had a key block to save the Heat's victory.

Kyle Korver scored a season-high 30 points in the Cavs ' win over the Hawks and Dwyane Wade had a key block to save the Heat's victory.

Cleveland was in a weird spot Friday. The Cavaliers were excited to have four newly acquired players on the roster, but they couldn't use any of them, so they had to make the best with what they had.

What they had were a total of 10 players suit up, two of whom were on two-way contracts.

Yet they came away with a 123-107 victory and did so by going back to what has made them so good in recent years. They shot the ball extremely well and Kyle Korver led the way.

The 36-year-old shooting guard scored a season-high 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting and 7-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc. His performance led a group of misfits with Ante Zizic, London Perrantes, John Holland and Cedi Osman to a win many thought would be impossible — even against the lowly Hawks.

Koby Altman: Cavs 'were marching a slow death' before trades

"I think it's obvious the goal was to get younger," Altman said. "We got more talented and certainly more athletic."The Cavaliers general manager spoke Thursday about the flurry of deals before the 3 p.m. trade deadline.

Kyle Korver scored a season-high 30 points in the Cavs ' win over the Hawks and Dwyane Wade had a key block to save the Heat's victory. Feels good to be back in wade county! The #R3TURN pic.twitter.com/mKpECs9lb5. — Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 10, 2018.

Dwyane Wade . The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the Atlanta Hawks despite being without their newly acquired players in the NBA on Friday. They shot the ball extremely well and Kyle Korver led the way.

It helped that LeBron James had a triple-double with 22 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds, but Korver's performance is what really gave the Cavaliers an extra boost. Cleveland needed a boost while it waits for reinforcements acquired before Thursday's trade deadline.

"It can be good for us offensively and defensively, starting all over and breaking everything down from scratch will be good for this team," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters after the game, via ESPN. "Even guys who have been here, I think it will be good. It will take some time to do that but we've got the All-Star break coming up... We'll try to get those guys up to speed as quickly as possible."

The Cavaliers not only have new players coming in, but they have six players going out as well. One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami. It was bittersweet for James to see one of his best friends go, but to see the reception Wade got before the 91-85 win over the Bucks alleviated much of the pain.

The Celtics and Wizards both remained quiet at the NBA trade deadline, then fought a back-and-forth game into overtime Thursday.Both teams showed Thursday they might be just fine despite standing pat in the trade market, as the Celtics hold off the Wizards for a tightly contested 110-104 overtime victory in Washington.

They shot the ball extremely well and Kyle Korver led the way. One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami . It was bittersweet for James to see one of his best friends go, but to see the reception Wade got before the 91-85 win over the Bucks

LeBron James and Kyle Korver saw the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Atlanta Hawks. The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the Atlanta Hawks despite being without their newly acquired One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami .

FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK IN WADE COUNTY!

The #R3TURNpic.twitter.com/mKpECs9lb5

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 10, 2018

Just to seal the deal though, Wade had to do what he does best for the Heat: help his team bring home a win. The 36-year-old guard may have scored just three points in 22 minutes, but his block on Eric Bledsoe up four with less than 35 seconds to go could not have been sweeter for Wade or the fans who love him so much.

Studs of the Night

Rockets center Clint Capela just keeps on truckin'. The 23-year-old center had 23 points, 25 rebounds and two blocks in Houston's 130-104 win over the Nuggets.

The Pacers tallied a 97-91 upset over the Celtics and a big reason was Victor Oladipo. The former Indiana Hoosier scored 35 points with 10 rebounds and five steals.

Dud of the Night

How will Cavs' additions from wild trade deadline fit with LeBron James, new roster?

The Cavs entered the trade deadline with glaring problems on their roster and exited with a completely new team. How will all of the pieces fit together?In two seperate deals, they turned Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose, Channing Frye, Jae Crowder, Iman Shumpert and their first-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft into George Hill, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson. They then traded Dwyane Wade back to the Heat in a third deal in return for a "heavily protected second-round pick.

LeBron James and Kyle Korver saw the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Atlanta Hawks. Please select your default edition US. Your default site has been set for 7 days . NBA .COM. One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami .

LeBron James and Kyle Korver saw the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Atlanta Hawks. The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the Atlanta Hawks despite being without their newly acquired One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami .

Miam's Goran Dragic was selected as an All-Star but Friday's performance wasn't very good. He went 1 for 11 from the floor with six points and three assists in 27 minutes of playing time in the Heat's win over the Bucks.

Highlight

Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell is competing in the dunk contest next week and showed why Friday in a 106-94 win over the Hornets.

What's Next

Spurs (35-21) at Warriors (42-13) 7:30 p.m. ET — The Warriors have more talent and depth than the Spurs, but San Antonio always finds a way to compete, especially in nationally televised games. Dejounte Murray and Kyle Anderson have emerged as legitimate role players with injuries early in the season to Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard. Their development will only make the Spurs more difficult to beat when they're at full strength.

George Hill: We all have to be Robins to LeBron James's Batman .
With Isaiah Thomas and the Big Three structure gone, George Hill said the Cavaliers need to be the Robins to LeBron James' Batman.With Isaiah Thomas and the Big Three structure now gone, newly acquired George Hill said his and the rest of the team's goal is to fill in around LeBron James' playing scheme.

Kyle Korver scored a season-high 30 points in the Cavs ' win over the Hawks and Dwyane Wade had a key block to save the Heat's victory. Feels good to be back in wade county! The #R3TURN pic.twitter.com/mKpECs9lb5. — Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 10, 2018.

Dwyane Wade . The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the Atlanta Hawks despite being without their newly acquired players in the NBA on Friday. They shot the ball extremely well and Kyle Korver led the way.

They shot the ball extremely well and Kyle Korver led the way. One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami . It was bittersweet for James to see one of his best friends go, but to see the reception Wade got before the 91-85 win over the Bucks

LeBron James and Kyle Korver saw the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Atlanta Hawks. The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the Atlanta Hawks despite being without their newly acquired One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami .

LeBron James and Kyle Korver saw the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Atlanta Hawks. Please select your default edition US. Your default site has been set for 7 days . NBA .COM. One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami .

LeBron James and Kyle Korver saw the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Atlanta Hawks. The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the Atlanta Hawks despite being without their newly acquired One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to Miami .

Dwyane Wade , The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the Atlanta Hawks despite being without their newly acquired players in the NBA on Friday. They shot the ball extremely well and Kyle Korver led the way.

The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the Atlanta Hawks despite being without their newly acquired players in the NBA on They shot the ball extremely well and Kyle Korver led the way. One of those players went out on more of a friendly deal as Dwyane Wade was sent home to

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